80 Anti-Aircraft Brigade was formed at Blandford, Dorset in April 1943 . It was initially under the Hampshire & Dorset District, Home Forces but was later assigned to 2 Army. They began training for the D-Day landings (Operation Overlord). The Brigade was assigned by 2 Army to support 1 Corps landing on Sword and Juno beaches. 70 AA Brigade were supporting 30 Corps on Gold beach. 80 Anti-Aircraft Brigade took them under command in January 1944. This arrangement stayed in place until after D-Day.
In September 1944 the Brigade followed the breakout and took on responsibility for the River Seine crossings. They moved 10 days later to Dieppe, Rouen, Abbeville and the Somme bridges. In October they moved to Antwerp. Here they became responsible for the early warning and tracking of the V1’s directed at Antwerp and Brussels. The Brigade was engaged in occupation duties at the end of the war in Europe. 80 Anti-Aircraft Brigade disbanded in February 1946.
Illustrations of the formation badges under which a unit served or supported are given. This is no guarantee that the unit used this formations badge.
| Apr 43 | Formed at Blandford, Dorset | ||
| May 43 | UK – in training for D-Day |  | 2 Army |
| Jun 44 | Sword & Juno beaches, Normandy |  | 1 Corps |
| Sep 44 | Dieppe, France |  | 1 Corps |
| Oct 44 | Antwerp, Belgium | | 21 Army Group |
| Feb 46 | Disbanded |
Order of Battle May 1943
| 86 (Honourable Artillery Company) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (273, 274, 383 Batteries) |
| 103 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment (322, 323, 324 Batteries) |
| 73 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (218, 220, 296 Batteries) |
| 114 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (372, 373, 375 Batteries) |
Order of Battle June 1944
| 86 (Honourable Artillery Company) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
| 103 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
| 73 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
| 93 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (320 321, 322 Batteries) – 320 Bty detached to 76 AA Bde |
| 114 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment – 375 Bty & 1 troop 372 Bty detached to 76 AA Bde |
| 474 Independent Searchlight Battery |
| 155 AA Operations Room |
| 160 AA Operations Room |
| 16 Fire Control Post |
| 76 Coast Observation Detachment |
| 103 Coast Observation Detachment |
| Under command for Assault Phase |
| F Troop, 318 Battery, 92 (Loyals) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment – to join 6 Airborne Division |
| 139 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (177, 230 Batteries) – manning AA barges |
| 63 Battery, 20 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment – manning Gooseberry blockships |
Elements of the Brigade landed with the leading waves on D-Day. They were divided into 4 assault groups as follows:
3 Infantry Division – Sword Beach
M Anti-Aircraft Assault Group – No. 5 Beach Group
| RHQ 73 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
| 218 Battery, 73 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
| 296 Battery less 2 troops, 73 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
| G & H Troops, 322 Battery, 93 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
| 322 Battery, 103 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
| C Troop, 323 Battery, 103 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
| B Troop, 474 Searchlight Battery |
| 16 Fire Control Post |
| 76 Coast Observation Detachment |
| 103 Coast Observation Detachment |
| One platoon, 112 Company, Pioneer Corps – Smoke generators |
| 73 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment Workshops REME |
N Anti-Aircraft Assault Group – No. 6 Beach Group
| RHQ 103 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
| D Troop, 323 Battery, 103 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
| 324 Battery, 103 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
| 220 Battery, 73 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
| I Troop, 322 Battery, 73 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
| C Troop, 474 Searchlight Battery |
| 160 AA Operations Room |
| One platoon, 112 Company, Pioneer Corps |
| 103 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment Workshops REME |
3 Canadian Division – Juno Beach
O Anti-Aircraft Assault Group – No. 7 Beach Group
| RHQ 114 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
| 372 Battery less C Troop, 114 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
| 321 Battery less E Troop, 93 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
| 274 Battery, 86 (Honourable Artillery Company) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
| One troop 383 Battery, 86 (Honourable Artillery Company) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
| 474 Searchlight Battery less B & C Troops |
| 112 Company, Pioneer Corps less detachments |
| 114 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment Workshops REME |
P Anti-Aircraft Assault Group – No. 8 Beach Group
| RHQ 86 (Honourable Artillery Company) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
| 273 Battery, 86 (Honourable Artillery Company) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
| 383 Battery less one troop, 86 (Honourable Artillery Company) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
| 375 Battery, 114 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
| One troop 296 Battery, 73 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
| One troop 321 Battery, 93 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
| Detachment 112 Company, Pioneer Corps |
| 86 (Honourable Artillery Company) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment Workshops REME |
Order of Battle December 1944
On V1 early warning & tracking
| 86 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment |
| 42 Searchlight Regiment less one battery |